Double-run window



' s. P. LOCKWOOD DOUBLE-RUN WINDOW June 17, 1952 Filed March 26, 1949 INVENTOR. Sc. mue l P Lockwood &

Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Application March 26, 1949, Serial No. 83,575

2 Claims. (Cl. Zo -52.4)

My invention pertains to windows, and relates particularly to the novel construction of springsuspended, double-run windows in which all undesirable binding forces are eliminated.

In the general construction of double-run windows, that is, the type of window in which upper and lower window. sashes are mounted slidably for vertical, movement within the casing, spaced strips are utilized to form vertical guideways for said sashes. It is desirable that these strips be spaced in such manner as to permit vertical movement of the sash therebetween but to prevent substantial horizontal displacement and hence eliminate rattling of the sash. With windows of this type constructed of wood, however, substantial expansion and contraction of the latter results from changes in climatic conditions. As the wood absorbs moisture and expands, the sash becomes wedged in the guideway between the strips, and vertical movement is thereby impaired. Upon contraction of wood, the sash fits loosely in the guideway and thus may rattle against the strips in response to lateral forces such as are impressed by wind and rain.

It is a principal object of my invention, therefore, to provide a double-run window which may be constructed of wood and in which expansion and contraction of the latter may occur freely without affecting, undesirably, the operation of said window.

Another important object is the provision of a double-run window construction in which the center parting bead, usually employed to separate the two sashes, is eliminated.

A further object of my invention is to proivde a double-run window construction in which the sashes are guided slidably over spaced flexible Weather strip elements which are mounted slidably for lateral movement upon the sides of the window casing.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a double-run window embodying the features of my invention, the manner in which one of said 7 2 window construction embodying the features of my invention. y

The double-run window embodying the tea tures of my invention includes a rectangular cas ing or frame comprising side plates I, a top plate '2 and a sill 3'. An upper window sash 4, carrying the glass 5, and a lower window sash 6, carrying glass 1, are mounted in spaced vertical rewindow sashes is removed from the casing being indicated in dotted outline;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing the manner inj'whieh the suspending spring is secured to the window sash; and

Fig. 3' is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 in Fig. 1, showing in detail the lation within said frame by means described in detail hereinafter. Outer marginal strips 8, secured to the frame, function to limit the lateral displacement of the upper sash 4 and to provide a base for mounting a window screen or storm sash, as is well known in the art. Inner marginal strips 9 function to limit the lateral displacement of the lower sash 6.

The window frame is adapted to be secured within an opening formed in the wall structure It of a building, and the exposed marginal edges may be sealed by means of outer and inner decorative mouldings II and I2, respectively, if so desired. Weather stripping 13, such as elongated strips of resilient metal of V-shaped cross section, is secured to the top edge and to the lower sloping edge of the upper sash 4 and to the bottom edge of the lower sash 6, respectively, to provide a weather-tight seal between the horizontal abutting edges of the frame and said sashes. When the outer decorative moulding H is used, metal flashing I4 is secured under the wall siding l5 and overlies the upper edge of said molding to prevent access of water into the space between the frame and said wall.

The lateral sides of the upper and lower window sashes are provided with longitudinal grooves l6. Mounted vertically upon the side plates. 1 are spaced flexible sealing units. Each of these units is composed of a strip of flexible metal bent in the shape of a U. The closed end of the U is formed with laterally extending flanges ll.

each other. These free ends are received within the longitudinal grooves l6 of the sash and, by

The free ends l8 of said unit diverge outwardly and are then forced inwardly toward,

corresponding sash by means of a nail 2I. The tension of the spring is designed substantially to counterbalance the weight of the sash, thereby affording greater ease of manipulation of the latter. The structure described hereinabove represents the elements of conventional doublerun windows and, as such, does not form any part of my invention. My invention resides in the manner in which the sealing units are mounted upon the side plates I, as will now be described.

In the usual construction of spring-suspended double-run windows, the sealing units described above are secured firmly to the side panels I by means of staples, screw, or other fastening means, and a wooden parting head is secured vertically between the upper and lower window sashes. The

disadvantages resulting from such construction have been discussed hereinbefore. It is an important feature of my invention that the sealing units be movable laterally with respect to the side panels I. I achieve this construction by suspending the units freely from the screws 20. The hole 22 formed in the upper end of the sealing units through which the screw passes is substantially larger than the diameter of the screw, thus permitting limited lateral shifting of the sealing units. The lower end of each sealing unit may be similarly secured, if so desired, but I deem this unnecessary, especially when the outer marginal strips 8 and 9 are employed.

A second important feature of my invention resides in the elimination of the conventional center parting bead described above. In place of this bead, I substitute a flat strip 23 of metal having offset sides. The strip is firmly secured to the side panel I vertically between the upper and lower sashes by means of screws 24, with the offset sides of the former overlying the inwardly facing flanges IT. The strip 23 thus provides a weather seal between the sealing units and the side panel I. The offset sides of the strip 23 do not hold the flanges I'I securely, but permit relative lateral movement therebetween. Thus the sealing units may be moved laterally over the side panel I between the limits of the hole 22 or until they abut against the marginal strips 8 and 9. It is apparent that in order to provide for this type of action, the sealing units must be mounted initially in such manner that the outer edges of the flanges I1 may be spaced a distance from the inner edges of the strips 8 and 9.

The double-run window construction embodying the features of my invention eliminates all undersirable binding forces tending to render difllcult the operation of the sashes. With the construction described above, the window sashes are substantially free floating, i. e. they are not in physical contact with the frame. Sufiicient clearance is provided between the sash and the confining elements of the frame to permit expansion and contraction of the wood as influenced by changes in climatic conditions. The physical sliding contact between the free ends I8 of the sealing units and the grooves I6 in the sash provides a positive weather seal therebetween, as in conventional construction. The use of the center strip 23, however, provides the additional advantage of permitting lateral movement of the sealing units to compensate for expansion and contraction of the wood while simultaneously forming a weather-tight seal between the sealing units and the side panels I.

Disassembly of the double-run window embodying the features of my invention is greatly simplified and facilitated, as compared with conventional structures. Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the inner marginal strips 9 are first removed, as is necessary in the conventional construction. However, the lower sash 6 may be removed from the frame by merely removing the one screw 20 which secures each of the corresponding springs I9 and sealing units, as compared with the large number of fastening elements utilized in conventional structures. The upper sash 4 is removed from the frame by first removing the screw 24 and the center strips 23. The screw 20 securing each of the sealing units and springs I9 cooperating with the upper sash is then removed and the sash is extracted from the frame. In the ordinary construction, the wooden center parting bead must first be removed. Unless extreme care is taken in this operation, the bead is usually broken or otherwise damaged, frequently necessitating a new replacement. The many fastening elements securing the sealing unit to the frame must then be extracted before the upper sash can be withdrawn.

It is also a feature of my invention to pretreat the wood defining the longitudinal grooves H5 in the sashes with a lubricating substance which reduces the frictional contact between the wood and the flexible ends I8 of the sealing units. Non-volatile lubricating substances such as soaps, waxes and non-volatile oils may be applied to the surfaces of the wood, or may be impregnated into the wood surrounding said grooves in manner well known in the art. Since the grooves are shielded substantially completely from the weather, the friction-reducing substance employed is not readily washed away or otherwise removed or rendered ineffective. The substance thus provides a substantially permanent lubricant by which easier manipulation of the sashes is obtained with the expenditure of a minimum of physical effort.

I claim:

1. A window comprising a frame bounded by protruding inner and outer marginal strip members, window sashes suspended for vertical movement in said frame intermediate said marginal strip members, spaced flexible weather sealing units mounted slidably and fiatwise against one face of said frame intermediate said marginal strip members for restricted lateral movement relative thereto, each said sealing unit having inwardly and outwardly facing flanges projecting laterally therefrom, said outwardly facing flanges terminating short of said strip member to accommodate lateral movement relative thereto, and a flat sealing strip removably secured to said one face of said frame intermediate said sealing units, said sealing strip having offset sides spaced from said one frame face and slidably overlying the inwardly facing flanges of said sealing units, said sealing units resiliently engaging the sashes to guide the latter vertically in said frame.

2. A window comprising a frame, window sashes suspended for vertical movement in said frame, spaced flexible weather sealing units mounted slidably at their upper ends on the sides of said frame for restricted lateral movement relative thereto, said sealing units being mounted fiatwise against said frame and having inwardly and outwardly facing flanges projecting laterally therefrom, stop means secured about the marginal edges of said frame and spaced laterally from said flanges for limiting the lateral movement of said sealing units, and a flat sealing rip removably secured to the side of said frame intermediate said sealing units, said strip having offset sides slidably overlying the inwardly facing flanges of said sealing units, said inwardly facing flanges being slidably engaged on the opposite faces thereof by said frame and said offset sides, respectively, said sealing units resilient- 1y engaging the sashes to guide the latter vertically in said frame.

SAMUEL P. LOCKWOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Hill Sept. 29, 1903 Johnson June 21, 1932 Gossen May 16, 1939 Robinson Mar. 5, 1940 Mayer Sept. 16, 1941 Gossen Sept. 23, 1941 Norden Apr. 3, 1945 

